Summary: <br> The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon <br> <br> Authorship <br> <br> My guests, Wayne L. Cowdrey, Howard A. Davis and Arthur Vanick, are authors of Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon? The Spalding Enigma. The authors argue for the view that Solomon Spalding, who died in 1816 wrote two manuscripts about the inhabitants of ancient America, one from 1809 to 1812 and another from c.1812 to c.1814. <br> <br> The second was acquired by Sidney Rigdon from a printing office in Pittsburg, where he was allegedly working, and then spent some 18 months meeting with Joseph Smith in Palmyra 1827-1829 where religious material was added to Spaldings story/history and published as the Book of Mormon. This has been the most popular theory among non-Mormons throughout most of Mormon history. For about the last 70 years, the theory has been discarded by most, including a number of prominent anti-Mormon advocates. This book is an attempt to resurrect the theory. <br> <br> I presented some of many points which I think demonstrate to the rational mind that the theory is bogus. The authors countered with expanations and arguments which they think establish beyond doubt that Spalding was the author of the Book of Mormon.The following synopsis was written just following this radio discussion. <br> <br> <br> Mr. Hale said he was skeptical of reminiscences provided by persons as late as 50 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon. He stated that the Spalding/Rigdon theory is entirely based upon alleged memories. There are no pre-1830 sources which described Solomon Spalding's literary production or Sidney Rigdon's acquaintance with the Joseph Smith, Sr. family living in western New York. <br> Mr. Hale said that testimony of early neighbors of the Smith family should have included specific points later brought up by Lorenzo Saunders, if those points were common knowledge. The fact that Howe did not include statements that the Smiths' neighbors knew of Rigdon's frequent visits from 1827-1830 or rumors of Rigdon impregnating Catherine Smith seems to devastate the credibility of Saunders alleged memories on this particular point. Mr. Hale said he did not believe that such a story was in circulation at an early date. <br> Mr. Hale gave three reasons for finding Bennett's 1831 article unbelieveable. Bennett's inability to provide the name of a visitor from Ohio beyond "Henry Rangdon or Ringdon or some such word" is inconsistent with Bennett's claim that he was privy to Rangdon's suggestion that the Smith's turn their "their digging concern into a religious plot." He did not know his name, but did know of his secret suggestion to the Smiths. <br> <br> Bennett, six times, called this man an "ex-preacher" or "ex-parson" from Ohio, during a time when substantial evidence establishes that Sidney Rigdon was not only an extremely active preacher, establishing nine new congregations in 1828, but was, in fact, the most famous preacher in northern Ohio. Bennett, or some unamed source, seems to have purloined a suggestion already circulating that "the first idea of a 'Book' was doubtless suggested to the Smiths by one Walters, a juggling fortune-teller" replacing Walters with Rangdon/Ringdon/Rigdon. <br> <br> Further, Bennett asserts that this "Ohio man" was so "famous" for his "particular felicity in finding out the spots of ground where money is hid," and who had "much experience in money digging" that his fame had found its way 200 miles from Ohio to upstate New York. When Rigdon became a Mormon in December 1830, he was vigorously opposed by Campbell, Scott, Bentley (his brother-in-law), along with other mininsters, including 3 cousins and another brother-in-law who had all become Disciple Ministers. However, none of these, nor others who knew Rigdon well, even in their opposition, suggested any knowledge of Rigdon's money digging fame, which Bennett alleged stretched to up-state New
